06/26/2015

Pope Francis broadens religion's role in environmental communications

Then, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, and legalizes same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

As a Great Lakes environmental writer, I'm moved and inspired by the pope's edict - not just what it means on the surface, but also because of what it means in the big picture to the growing importance of religion as a form of environmental communication.

Each day, it seems, religion speaks more to people about the need for environmental stewardship.

Pope Francis at the Vatican on June 24. Photo credit: Associated Press.

For one of the best books on that subject - a topic that has long fascinated me - I refer you to Harvard University's famed entomologist-author Edward O. Wilson and his 2007 book, The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth, which I reviewed for The Blade when it came out.

In it, Wilson makes a strong argument for how Earth's future depends on the ability of religion and science to put aside their longstanding differences - Darwin theories and all - and work together.

Wilson, an Alabama native whose absorbing prose is often likened to that of Henry David Thoreau, writes the narrative as if he were writing a series of letters to a Southern Baptist minister.

In one section of the book, Wilson tells the minister how Earth "is a laboratory wherein Nature (God, if you prefer, Pastor) has laid before us the results of countless experiments."

"She speaks to us; now let us listen," Wilson writes.

He goes on to say how science and religion have a "moral imperative" to save the Earth, suggesting neither can do it on their own.

"Life on this planet can stand no more plundering," Wilson writes. "Those living today will either win the race against extinction or lose it, the latter for all time. They will either earn everlasting honor or everlasting contempt."

Harvard University's Edward O. Wilson, author of The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth. Photo credit: Associated Press.

Catholics are, of course, not alone in their call for action on climate change, the world's most pressing environmental issue and one that Pope Francis has, likewise, declared to be a moral issue.

Several years ago, the national Presbyterian Church USA filed a legal complaint against Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., contending it was not moving fast enough to reduce greenhouse gases.

Comprised of 14,000 ministers and 2.3 million members in more than 10,000 congregations, the Presbyterian Church USA convinced the utility giant in 2008 to disclose plans for achieving further reductions in greenhouse gases from its coal-fired plants.

Climate change also has inspired those outside of traditional environmental circles, such as the Pentagon, which sees climate change as a threat to national security, and the health industry, which is getting more vocal about climate change being a public health threat.

In the business world, the insurance industry has been tracking climate change closely for years, adjusting policies accordingly.

The Vatican has made Pope Francis' 184-page encyclical letter available here. For a more traditional 8.5 x 11 inch page version go here.

Pope Francis has broaden the role of religion as a form of environmental communication with his encyclical on climate change. Photo credit: The Associated Press.

The choice of words is fascinating, starting with the title which states "On Care for Our Common Home."

Ironically, that's what I felt compelled to state in a different way with these words that I had permanently embedded on the home page of this blog: "Every pollution battle ultimately comes down to mankind's desire to better itself while protecting its sense of home."

I thought that having a pope named after St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th century saint who found great comfort with nature, was exciting then and still do - and I'm not even Catholic.

On Monday, Interfaith Power & Light, which describes itself as "A Religious Response to Global Warming," is hosting a conference call with the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Stockton, Calif., to go over details of the pope's encyclical on climate change.

Bishop Blaire has served as chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's Committee on Domestic Justice, Peace, and Human Development.

Sara Ward, Ohio Interfaith Power and Light director, said congregations across Ohio "have been hard at work practicing what the Pope is now preaching on climate action, embracing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate-friendly grounds at their houses of worship and in their own homes."

That's certainly true of one of its board members, retired University of Toledo physics department chairman Al Compaan, who has helped install solar panels at his church and at his Sylvania Township house.

Other board members of Ohio Interfaith and Light include one of Ohio's top scientists, Lonnie Thompson, of Ohio State University's Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center; Green Energy Ohio executive director Bill Spratley and Janine Migden-Ostrander of the Regulatory Assistance Project. The latter two are former heads of the Ohio Office of Consumer Counsel, which represents utility ratepayers.

Days after Pope Francis delivered his encyclical, 20 Catholic university presidents, two past presidents of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and many other church leaders co-signed a letter to all members of Congress and 2016 presidential candidates, encouraging them "to consider the moral dimensions of this issue and the urgent need for action."

A Washington-based group, Faith in Public Life, said the leaders of that campaign were specifically targeting the presidential candidates. Signatories take issue with Rick Santorum and Jeb Bush criticizing Pope Francis for taking a position on climate change, the group said.

Presidential candidates Rick Santorum...

...and Jeb Bush have come under fire for chiding Pope Francis about his views on climate change. Associated Press photos.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and a key adviser to Pope Francis on the encyclical, called the criticism from the two presidential candidates "unfortunate."

"What is morality about, if not about our conduct, our decisions, our conscience, and the choices we make?" Cardinal Turkson asked.

Comments

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Tom, thank you for your comments on the Pope's powerful and enlightening encyclical on protecting our natural environment. On such an important topic that affects the future health and well being of our children and grandchildren, it is so helpful to have the the Pope provide his moral leadership. The air, water and condition of our planet cannot be significantly improved overnight, but a roadmap to the steps that must be taken on a consistent basis can make the earth a much better place to live 20 years from now. The Pope's encyclical helps to start us down that path. Peace.

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"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." - Henry David Thoreau

About Ripple Effect

Every pollution battle ultimately comes down to mankind's desire to better itself while protecting its sense of home. In this blog, Blade Staff Writer Tom Henry looks at how Great Lakes energy-environmental issues have a ripple effect on our public health, our natural resources, our economy, our psychological well-being, and our homespun pride.

About Tom Henry

Tom Henry is an award-winning journalist who has covered primarily energy and environmental issues the past two decades. He is a member of the national Society of Environmental Journalists, one of North America's largest journalism groups.